Yarn handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for handling a strand of yarn continuously advancing at high speed through a winding machine. The strand is cut and an injector plunger and jet divert the strand into an aspirator which passes the strand to a disposal container. An aspirator for handling strandular materials such as yarn constructed to provide a vortex encircled by a high speed laminar fluid stream which substantially increases the capacity of the aspirator for controlling the strandular material which has been directed into the aspirator.

United States Patent Hans H. Richter Warwick, RJ.

Feb. 12, 1969 Division of Ser. No. 653,767, July 17, 1967. Patent No. 3,452,910.

Feb. 23, 1971 Leesona Corporation Warwick, RJ. 7

a corporation of Massachusetts Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee YARN HANDLING APPARATUS 7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 83/100, 83/175, 83/402 Int. Cl. B65h 29/24 Field of Search..., 83/ 100, 402, 175;226/91, 92, 97; 57/34 (B), 34.5; 30/133 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,481,197 9/1949 Caille 226/91 3,090,268 5/1963 Edwards 83/100 3,191,831 6/1965 Bunting, Jr., et al.. 226/97X 3,452,626 7/1969 Speakman 83/4029/ 3,452,910 7/1969 Richter 226/91 Primary Examiner-James M. Meister AttorneysAlbert P. Davis and Burnett W. Norton ABSTRACTrApparatus for handling a strand of yarn continuously advancing at high speed through a winding machine. The strand is cut and an injector plunger and jet divert the strand into an aspirator which passes the strand to a disposal container. An aspirator for handling strandular materials such as yarn constructed to provide a vortex encircled by a high speed laminar fluid stream which substantially increases the capacity of the aspirator for controlling the strandular material which has been directed into the aspirator.

iPAT ENTEUFEBZINHYI I 3554.958

INVENTOR. HANS H. RICHTER W. M flaw/ M ATTORNEYS YARN HANDLING APPARATUS This application is a division of copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 653,767 filed Jul. 17, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,910.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling an advancing strand of yarn and, more particularly, to apparatus for cutting the strand and handling the cut strand.

Throughout the following specification, the term yarn" means all kinds of strand material, either textile or otherwise, and the term package" means the product of a winding or twisting machine, whatever its form.

During winding of packages of yarn from a continuously advancing strand of yarn, it is common practice when a package is full, to cut the strand of yarn and pass the advancing strand through an aspirator and into a collection receptacle. The aspirator is then usually used to thread the strand of yarn onto a new core for winding another package. Commercially available aspirators have been found unsatisfactory for handling the yarn at higher speeds (3,000 to 5,000 y.p.m.) desired in more modern textile equipment. One problem is that available air pressure in many textile mills is relatively low, about 80 p.s.i. maximum. Additionally, prior yarn cutting techniques have been found to be inadequate at the higher yarn speeds, at least in part because the momentum of the advancing strand causes it to be somewhat unmanageable.

To overcome these difficulties, the present invention is, in brief, directed to apparatus for cutting a rapidly advancing strand and passing it through an aspirator of substantially increased capacity over that which has previously been commercially practical at normally available operating pressures. In order to handle the rapidly advancing strand at readily available operating pressures, the aspirator has a venturi through which a vortex is encased in a rapidly moving laminar stream for moving the strand at high speed. A strand injector cooperates with a cutter in aiding entry of the strand into the aspirator.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide new and improved apparatus for handling a continuously advancing strand of yarn.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved apparatus including an aspirator having substantially increased capacity.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and useful injector.

A further object of this invention is to provide new and im proved apparatus for handling a continuously advancing strand of yarn and including a cutter operable for cutting the advancing strand, an injector for diverting the cut strand into an aspirator through which the strand is propelled by a stream including a vortex encased in a high velocity laminar stream.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of a winding machine including a preferred embodiment of the invention in the form of yarn handling apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view of the yarn handling apparatus as shown in FIG. 1, with parts broken away and in section for clearer illustration;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged, fragmentary sectional elevational view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 2, and illustrating an additional feature of the invention;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary elevational views of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, in progressive stages of operation, with parts broken away and in section for clearer illustration;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view of an actuating valve shown in FIG. 1, with parts broken away and in section for clearer illustration;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 8-8 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 9-9 in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1 in the drawings, a winding machine 10 receives a continuously advancing strand of yarn Y from a suitable source of supply such as a spinneret (not shown). The yarn makes multiple passes around a godet roll 11 and a filament separator 12 and then passes through yarn handling apparatus 13. From this apparatus, the yarn passes around a roller 14 on a compensator arm 15 and then upwardly through a traversing mechanism 16 which guides the yarn as it is wound into a package P on a takeup spindle 17. When the package P is full, the yarn handling apparatus 13 is operated to cut the strand Y and direct the advancing strand from the spinneret into a container 18. The strand of yarn may advance at speeds in excess of at least 5 ,000 y.p.m.

As shown in FIG. 1 and in greater detail in FIG. 2, the strand handling apparatus 13 includes a strand cutter 19 for cutting the advancing strand Y. The cut strand is diverted by an injector 20 into a strand inlet 21 of an aspirator 22 from which the advancing strand is discharged via a flexible tube 23 into the container 18 which is vented as through a screen 24. The apparatus is operated by a pressurized fluid, usually compressed air at about p.s.i., supplied through a conduit 25 and an actuating valve 26 to the injector 20 and through another conduit 27 and a shutoff valve 28 to the aspirator 22.

When it is desired to terminate winding of the strand Y onto the package P, the shutoff valve 28 in the air conduit 27 to the aspirator 22 is opened and the actuating valve 26 in the air conduit 25 to the injector 20 is operated. With the actuating valve 26 in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, an operating flange 29 (FIG. I) on a valve member 30 is rapidly rotated clockwise from a position with a spring-pressed ball detent 31 in a body 32 of the valve seated is a first recess 33 in the valve member 30, to a position with the ball detent 31 seated in a second recess 34 in the valve member. As the valve member 30 is rotated between these positions, a passage 35 through the valve member momentarily connects an inlet passage 36 in the valve body 32 with an outlet passage 37 in the body so that compressed air from the supply conduit 25 passes into the injector 20. After the passage 35 in the valve member has passed the inlet and outlet passages, a vent passage 38 in the valve member connects the outlet passage 37 with a vent 39 in the valve body 32 to release the air from the injector 20. The next time the apparatus is operated, the valve member 30 is turned counterclockwise so that the passage 35 again momentarily connects the inlet and outlet passages and then a second vent passage 40 in the valve member connects the outlet passage 37 with a second vent 41 in the valve body as the ball detent 31 again seats in the first recess 33 in the valve member 30.

When the actuating valve 26 is operated, compressed air passes through the injector supply conduit 25 and an air inlet 42 (FIG. 2) in a rigid injector body 43 and into a hollow cylinder 44 of the body to move a piston 45 (about /2 sq. in. area) in the cylinder 44 to the left from a normal, retracted position as shown in FIG. 2. The piston 45 is concentrically, fixedly secured intermediate opposite ends of a tube 46. The rear (right) end of the tube is sealed by a plug 47 securely fixed in the tube end. The left end of the tube extends slidably through a cylinder end wall 48 and is fixedly secured to a plunger 49 which is moved along with the piston 45 from the retracted position (FIG. 2) to an extended position (about three-fourths inch total stroke) as shown in FIG. 6.

A magnet 50 (5 lbs.) in a rear closure member 51 of the rigid injector body 43 holds the tube 46 in place in the retracted position of the plunger 49 until a predetermined air pressure (10 p.s.i.) has built-up in the cylinder 44, whereupon the tube 46 breaks loose from the magnet 50 and the plunger 49 accelerates more rapidly than it would without such restraint.

The plunger has a tip 52 with a generally frustoconical configuration conforming generally to an inwardly converging configuration of the strand inlet 21 in the aspirator 22. A notch 53 in the apex of the plunger tip 52 receives the strand Y as the plunger 49 moves toward its extended position (FIG. 4). In moving to the extended position, the plunger 49 engages Just before the strand Y is cut, a port 54 near the rear end of 5 the injector tube 46 clears the front end of a seal member 55 (after about one-half inch plunger movement) fixedly secured at the rear of the injector cylinder 44. Compressed air then passes into the tube 46 and through a passage 56 communicating with the front end of the tube and terminating in a port 57 (about one thirty-second inch diameter) at the base of the injector notch 53. The air leaves the port in the form of a jet 58 (FIGS. 4-6) which impinges upon the strand Y to drive it into the strand inlet 21 as shown in FIG. 5, and to prevent the strand from moving rearwardly out of the aspirator 22. Continued movement of the plunger 49 to its extended position causes a resilient washer 59 on the rear end of the injector tube 46 and seated against a transverse flange 60 on the plug 47, to strike the cylinder seal member 55. As the washer 59 is compressed, the plunger 49 remains sufficiently spaced from the surface of the strand inlet 21 (FIG. 6) that the strand Y may move freely through the inlet.

It is desirable to introduce the cut strand of yarn Y into the strand inlet with as great a velocity as possible. To this end, the path of the strand Y from the point where it is engaged by the plunger 49 is such that the momentum of the rapidly advancing strand aids in moving the strand into the strand inlet. Furthermore, the cutter 19 is spaced a sufficient distance (about l'kto 2 inches) from the axis of the aspirator strand inlet 21 and the injector plunger 49 to provide a free end on the cut strand sufficiently long that the strand may form a return portion 61 (FIGS. 5 and 6) which more completely fills the aspirator strand inlet as is desirable for reasons which will become apparent later.

The injector plunger 49, tube 46 and piston 45 are returned from the extended position (FIG. 6) to the retracted position (FIG. 2) by a compression spring 62 (2 to 3 lbs.) telescoped about the tube 46 and seated on the front end wall 48 of the injector cylinder 44 and against the piston 45. Holes, as 63, in the injector body 43 provide vents for the free passage of air into and out of the cylinder 44 between the piston 45 and the cylinder end wall 48 as the plunger 49 is moved to the retracted position and extended position, respectively.

As mentioned previously, as the plunger 49 moves to its extended position, the cutter I9 is operated to cut the strand Y. More particularly and with reference to FIG. 2, a pair of pins 64 (FIG. 8) one fixedly secured to either side of the plunger 49, are received in elongated notches 65 in opposite side edges of a cutter blade 66 slidably mounted atop a cutter body 67 fixedly secured to and depending from the injector body 43. The pins 64 and notches 65 provide a lost motion connection between the plunger 49 and the cutter blade 66 such that the blade is delayed in cutting the strand Y until after the jet 58 has started and the plunger 49 has moved to the position shown in FIG. 5. As the cutter blade 66 engages the strand Y (FIG. 5), it moves the strand against a cutting edge 68 of a strand guide 69 in the cutter body 67. A similar strand guide 70 is in a bracket 71 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which depends from the cutter body 67. These guides have reduced necks 72 (FIG. 8) opening through edges of the cutter body 67 and bracket 71 for the passage of the strand Y into the guides.

With reference to the aspirator 22, (FIG. 2) as the strand Y enters the strand inlet 21 it passes through a conduit 73 in an inlet portion 74 of a hollow body 75 of the aspirator and into an elongated throat 76 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of a venturi passage 77 formed by the inner surface of the body 75. The conduit 73 is fixedly secured in the venturi passage 77 by a clamping sleeve 78 threaded into the body 76 and a smaller clamping sleeve 79 threaded into the first sleeve 78 and against a suitable sealing packing 80 about the conduit 73.

By introducing the strand Y into the conduit 73 with the return portion 61 at its free end, as previously mentioned, the conduit 73 is more completely filled so that air flow through the conduit is more effective in moving the strand into the aspirator throat 76. After the return portion 61 passes through the conduit 73 and into the throat 76, only one thickness of the strand Y runs through the conduit so that friction is reduced.

Compressed air for operating the aspirator 22 is introduced through the aspirator supply conduit 27 and a nipple 81 opening into the inlet portion 74 of the aspirator body 75 and, more particularly, into the upstream end of the venturi. This nipple 81 is inclined at about 18 to the axis of the the venturi 77 in a direction toward the venturi throat 76.

The air passes between the outside of the conduit-73 and the venturi surface 77 to an end of the conduit at the upstream end of the elongated throat 76. This end of the conduit is provided with a plurality of helical lands and grooves 82, and as shown in FIG. 9, with four helical grooves. These lands and grooves may have a half-inch lead for 840 to 1,300 dn. yarn Y at a speed of about 3,500 y.p.m. with the grooves as wide and deep as is practical. The lands and grooves 82 are tapered at about 9 to the venturi axis at the end of the conduit, and are generally parallel to the venturi axis at their rear ends. The lands and grooves 82 cause the compressed air to spiral and enter the throat 76 in the form of a vortex 83 (FIG. 3) which has low axial velocity and very high tangential velocity. The vortex 83 is encircled by a high velocity stream 84 of laminar air passing generally parallel to the venturi axis and generally along the surface of the venturi 77.

Thus, as the strand Y emerges from the conduit 73, the vortex 83 causes it to follow a generally spiral path transverse to the venturi axis through the venturi throat 76 and an outlet portion 85 of the venturi 77. This spiral path causes the strand Y to move into the laminar stream 84, which propels the strand at high velocity through the aspirator, and at substantially the same speed that the strand advances through the winding machine 10 during winding. The laminar stream 84 retards movement of the spiraling strand Y against the surface of the venturi 77 thus effectively preventing the whipping strand from cutting into the venturi throat 76 and damaging the aspirator.

The venturi throat 76 should be as long as possible without allowing the vortex 83 to dissipate the laminar stream 84 or the strand to cut into the venturi surface. With a throat diameter of about 0.20 inch, a throat length of about 0.50 inch in preferable. As is understood in the art, the air velocity in the throat 76 is higher than downstream of the throat, and by maintaining this high speed as long as possible the strand Y is moved faster. The venturi inlet portion 74 converges at about 20 and the outlet portion 85 diverges at about 12. Apparatus as shown in FIG. 2 is capable of handling a 1,300 dn. strand of yarn advancing at a velocity up to at least 3,500 y.p.m. with an operating air pressure of p.s.i.

At strand speeds above 3,500 y.p.m. and up to about 5,000 y.p.m., it has been found desirable to provide a frustoconical sheath or sleeve 86 (FIGS. 3 and 9) (converging at about 18) seated and adhesively secured on the tapered helical lands 82 as shown in FIG. 3. It should be noted that the lands and grooves 82 are out such that the sleeve 86 seats on the tapered lands at the end of the conduit but farther back where the lands are in line with the cylindrical sidewall of the conduit 73, the sleeve is spaced from the lands. Thus, the compressed air is caused to enter the sleeve 86 and follow the spiral path defined by the lands and grooves 82 and to emerge into the venturi throat 76 in the form of the vortex 83. Furthermore, the sleeve 86 is closely spaced from the venturi surface at the venturi throat 76 (about .010 inch) and diverges from the venturi surface to its opposite end so that the air passing between the sleeve and the venturi surface is compressed and its velocity increased as the laminar stream 84 is directed into the throat 76. The laminar stream 84 enters the venturi throat 76 at higher velocity than without use of the sleeve and causes the yarn to be carried through the aspirator at a higher speed.

Should speeds in excess of 5,000 y.p.m. be encountered, the apparatus is capable of handling the yarn by addition of at least a drop of liquid, such as water, into the jet 58. This drop of water may be supplied in any suitable manner, for example by water introduced into the injector tube 46 through a water supply conduit 87 (FIGS 1 and 2). This conduit is connected with a nipple 88 extending through the injector body 43 and seal 55 and communicating with an annular passage 89 in the injector seal 55 facing the tube 46. The annular passage 89 is slightly ahead of the tube inlet port 54 when the plunger is in its retracted position (H6. 2). As the plunger 49 is moved to its extended position the inlet port 54 passes across the annular passage 89 to admit water to the interior of the tube 46, and as the resilient washer 59 at the end of the tube strikes the seal 55, the water in the tube is caused to move toward the leading end of the tube and is ejected through the port 57 along with the jet 58. The effect of the water is to more completely seal the conduit 73 in the aspirator 22 and to accelerate the yarn because of the mass of the water, so that the jet 58 is more effective in moving the yarn Y through the conduit 73.

When the filled package P has been removed from the takeup spindle l7 and a new core inserted thereon, the aspirator 22 may be removed from a mounting bracket 90 on the winding machine 10 and used for guiding the advancing strand Y through the cutter guides 69 and 70 and around the roll 14 on the compensator arm 15, through the traverse mechanism 16 and onto the new core for winding another package P. The aspirator 22 may be releasably mounted in any suitable manner and, as illustrated, the mounting bracket 90 is fixedly mounted on the winding machine 10 and has a socket 91 (FIG. 2) which telescopically receives a finger 92 of the aspirator body 75. A groove 93 in the leading end of the finger 92 receives a guide pin 94 extending into the socket 91 so that the aspirator is stationary when on the winding machine.

While this invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment in a particular environment, various changes may be apparent to one skilled in the art and the invention is therefore not to be limited to such embodiment or environment except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for handling a strand of yarn advancing from a supply comprising, a strand receiver having an opening therein for the reception of said strand, means creating a fluid stream within said receiver to induce the strand through the receiver, injector means operable to engage and direct the strand toward said openings, severing means operable after engagement of the strand by the injector means to sever the strand, and fluid means cooperative with said injector means to tension the strand during severing and for carrying the strand advancing from said supply into said fluid stream after severing of said strand.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said injector means comprises a plunger, and means mounting said plunge for movement between a first position spaced from said opening and a second position proximate to said opening.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said severing means is connected with said injector means for movement therewith.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fluid means includes a fluid passage through said injector means, and conduit means for conducting fluid to said opening.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including control means actuatable as said injector means moves toward said second position for admitting fluid to said fluid opening.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said injector means engages said strand at an intermediate position between said supply and a takeup and forms a bight in said intermediate portion, the bight being projected to said opening, the severing means severs the strand between said bight and said takeup to thus provide a tail downstream of said opening,

and said fluid means operates to urge said tail into said fluid stream.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid stream is provided as a vortical stream and a high velocity laminar fluid stream generally encircling said vortical stream. 

1. Apparatus for handling a strand of yarn advancing from a supply comprising, a strand receiver having an opening therein for the reception of said strand, means creating a fluid stream within said receiver to induce the strand through the receiver, injector means operable to engage and direct the strand toward said openings, severing means operable after engagement of the strand by the injector means to sever the strand, and fluid means cooperative with said injector means to tension the strand during severing and for carrying the strand advancing from said supply into said fluid stream after severing of said strand.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said injector means comprises a plunger, and means mounting said plunge for movement between a first position spaced from said opening and a second position proximate to said opening.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said severing means is connected with said injector means for movement therewith.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fluid means includes a fluid passage through said injector means, and conduit means for conducting fluid to said opening.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including control means actuatable as said injector means moves toward said second position for admitting fluid to said fluid opening.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said injector means engages said strand at an intermediate position between said supply and a takeup and forms a bight in said intermediate portion, the bight being projected to said opening, the severing means severs the strand between said bight and said takeup to thus provide a tail downstream of said opening, and said fluid means operates to urge said tail into said fluid stream.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid stream is provided as a vortical stream and a high velocity laminar fluid stream generally encircling said vortical stream. 